Integrated Design

Medical products have always presented numerous design challenges because of their complexity, functional specifications, cost constraints, aesthetic requirements and size. These issues have forced designers to constantly search for cost effective, commercially proven manufacturing methods and materials that could transform their ideas into marketable products. A few years ago our design firm was awarded a project that represented a classic case study involving all the challenges previously cited. Integrated Design Systems was chosen by Fonar to develop a set of covers for their new Stand Up MRI system. This project was a unique and exciting opportunity for many reasons. First, we had an opportunity to meet and work with the current president of Fonar and inventor of MRI, Dr. Raymond Damadian. Second this was one of the physically largest and most challenging projects we ever encountered. Third, this product was the first of its kind, allowing patients to stand within an open framed MRI during scans. Since this product represented a revolutionary step forward in MRI, Dr. Damadian sought a design that was consistent with this breakthrough concept. He described his vision for the new product to convey comfort, technological leadership, quality and most of all, openness. These characteristics had to be compliant with the massive inner steel structure which created the powerful magnetic field used in the imaging process.

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